Part of the Yoga Nidra
CD: The Ascending Breath exercise is
a guided practice, systematically moving your attention through internal
points. It is used as a part of systematic yoga meditation and Yoga
Nidra (track 4 of the Yoga Nidra CD). Note that the last few
instructions of the Ascending Breath practice are designed to transition
into the final track of the Yoga Nidra CD, not to completely end the
meditation.

It is best done lying
on your back on a hard, though comfortable surface, such as a
carpeted floor.

Put a small cushion
under the back of your head.

Lie in such a way that
your head, neck, and spine are straight.

Place your arms a
comfortable distance to your sides, and have the feet a comfortable
distance apart.

After the exercise,
you might want to go deep into the space between the breasts for
yoga nidra (yogic sleep) or take a few minutes for seated
meditation.

Parts of the practice: Here are
the stages of the Ascending Breath practice, though you will
not need this list when following the recording:

Breath as if exhaling from the top
of the head down to the toes, and as if inhaling from the
toes up to the top of the head.

Exhale from the top of the head to
the ankles.

Exhale and inhale from the top of
the head to the knees.

Exhale and inhale from the top of
the head to the perineum at the base of the spine.

Exhale and inhale from the top of
the head to the navel.

Exhale and inhale from the top of
the head to the heart center.

Exhale and inhale from the top of
the head to the throat.

Breathe from the top of the head to
the bridge between the nostrils.

Exhale and inhale many times between
the space between the eyebrows and the bridge between the
nostrils.

Breathe from the top of the head to
the bridge between the nostrils.

Exhale and inhale from the top of
the head to the throat.

Exhale and inhale from the top of
the head to the heart center.

Exhale and inhale from the top of
the head to the navel.

Exhale and inhale from the top of
the head to the perineum at the base of the spine.

Exhale and inhale times from the top
of the head to the knees.

Exhale from the top of the head to
the ankles and back.

Breath as if exhaling from the top
of the head down to the toes, and as if inhaling from the
toes up to the top of the head.

The Ascending Breath exercise is an excellent
practice for entering Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep), which is a state where
you are in deep sleep, yet are awake. Yoga Nidra is deeply relaxing, and
is used by the yogis to deal with samskaras (the deep impressions that
drive karma) in their latent form.

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This site is
devoted to presenting the ancient Self-Realization path of
the Tradition of the Himalayan masters in simple,
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the highest Joy that comes from the Realization in direct
experience of the center of consciousness, the Self, the
Atman or Purusha, which is one and the same with the
Absolute Reality. This Self-Realization comes through Yoga
meditation of the Yoga Sutras, the contemplative insight of
Advaita Vedanta, and the intense devotion of Samaya Sri
Vidya Tantra, the three of which complement one another like
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